Method of sealing snuffers



Nov. 4, 1952 A. F. REILLY METHOD OF SEALING SNUFFERS Filed Jan. 27, 1948 j'ed E Patented Nov. 4, 1952 '-METHQD for `l"sEALINGf: sNIJEFlERs Alfrgdrj ReillygNorth Attleboro,lMa ss.,..assignor tqlflvans GasezGo., a, corporationo'f Massachu- SQCLS Q Aplicationisanuary 27, ifaiaseriaiNosga-a (c1. .2s-14s) 3 Claims. l

This invention relates to a pyrophoric lighter, and particularly to the sealing of the snuffer cap at its lower edge or point of engagement with the wick-supporting structure.

I'his type of lighter has a fuel tank with the top wall and a Wick-supporting structure mounted in an opening in the top wall, and through which support the wick extends. The wick transmits fuel through it to the point of burning and if it were not for some closure device over the wick, the fuel would escape by evaporation and would soon exhaust the fuel in the tank; consequently, it has been the practice to provide a cap over the wick end, so that the air will not get to the wick land. evaporate the fuel therefrom. A seal at the lower edge of the snuffer cap, however, is not always tight, and, accordingly, some evaporation still occurs by circulation of the air into the snuffer cap.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a method for providing a tight seal between the snuffer cap and the portion surrounding the wick against which the snuifer cap engages.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means whereby this seal may be provided with a simple operation, such for instance as by tapping the snuffer cap with a hammer.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and procedural steps as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section to better show the construction in the initial assembly stage;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating the parts after there has been a hammer blow on the snuifer cap to cause deflection of a flange which extends from the wick-supporting tube;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating a modied form of the device before the hammer blow has been struck;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the parts of Figure 3 after there has been a hammer blow struck to deform the flange against which the snuffer cap engages;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the tube through which the wick extends; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the ring which is positioned beneath the flange of the tube shown in Figure 5 in the modied form shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The body of the lighter is designated generally I0 and comprises a fuel tank II having a side wall I2 and a top wall I3. An aperture I4 is provided in this top wall I3 and in this aperture a wick-supporting boss I5 which is reduced as at I6 is positioned so that its shoulder I'I will engage the upper surface of the top wall I3. This wick-supporting boss has a bore I8 extending centrally through it, and it is beveled as at I9 on its upper outer surface. The wick 20 is supported in a tube 2I of a soft malleable material which has a flange 22 extending outwardly from its upper end as shown in Figure 1. This flange is substantially at right angles to the axis of the tube. The wick fits tightly in this tube, and the tube is of such a size as' to have a press fit with the bore I8 of the supporting boss I5 so that no iluid will escape along the joint. The wick is secured in the tube by deilecting the tube inwardly as at 23 which serves not only to hold the wick in the tube, but also serves to constrict by compression the wick to some extent so as to govern the flow of uid along the wick.

The snuffer cap 25 is illustrated as in the form of an inverted cup with an edge 26 which is beveled inwardly as shown in the drawings. The cap is mounted in a lever arm 21 which is pivoted as at 28 so as to swing to and from position in response to manual manipulation. The lower edge 26 of this snuiier cap is of a size to engage the flange 22 of the tube 2I at a point slightly radially spaced from the wick 20.

In order to conform the surface of the flange Ito the snuffer cap so that there will be a good sealing engagement between the two parts, after the snuffer is brought into engagement with the flange 22, a hammer blow will be struck at substantially the point 30 shown in Figure 2, so as to deflect or bend the iiange 22 downwardly as at 22' in Figure 2; thus giving the soft malleable flange a shape which will snugly t the edge o-f the snuffer 25. Thereafter, when the lever moves the snuffer against the ilange under spring pressure, it will have a good tight sealing engage- .ment at all times.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, I have provided a ring 3| which may be positioned beneath the ange 22 of the tube 2|, and in this case, the supporting boss I5 will have a right angularly extending end 33 instead of the tapered end I9 as above described. Th-e tube will have the same driving fit with the bore I8, and after the parts are assembled, as shown in Figure 3, a hammer blow at the location 30, as shown in Figure 4, will cause the flange 22 to be bent as shown at 22a so as to cause a good firm and tight seal between the lower edge 26 of the snuffel' cap and this flange which is extended over the ring 3|.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a tight joint between a removable lighter snuier cap and the wick support, which comprises positioning a soft malleable tube with a radially extending metal surface at its outer end about the wick, bringing a harder engaging edge of the snuffer cap into engagement with said surface, and forcing the cap against 10 Number the surface by a hammer blow suciently to cause a permanent deection of the surface and a conforming of the shape of the surface to the edge of the snufier cap to provide a goodV sealing engagement between the two.

2. The method as in claim l wherein the deflection is against a flange having a receding surface partially supporting the flange.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the deection is against a flange having a, curved surface partially supporting the flange.

ALFRED F. REILLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,026,571 Dubinsk May 14, 1912 1,804,284 Smith May 5, 1931 1,828,887 Aronson Oct. 27, 1931 1,872,496 Rebessana Aug. 16, 1932 1,951,860 Cowles 1 Mar. 20, 1934 1,987,100 Dick Jan. 8, 1935 2,111,916 Middleton Mar. 22, 1938 2,190,478 Kleinknecht Feb. 13, 1940 

